safety policy

ACTIVITY:  IMPROVISED RAFT BUILDING

VENUE

Tidal section of Hamble River - specifically shore line of Manor Farm Country Park, including Hoe Moor Creek

STAFFING       

Instructor           BCU coach level 2 / UKCC level 1 paddlesports coach with current first aid or lifesaving qualification

            Assistant          competent adult with current first aid or lifesaving qualification

RATIO  

Ashore              one instructor or assistant per eight students

            Afloat                one instructor per eight students

EQUIPMENT    

                        Rafting equipment - poles, barrels, ropes in good state of repair, paddles

                        Students equipment - personal flotation device and helmets to be worn when afloat

Instructor equipment - buoyancy aid, rescue boat (canoe/motorboat as appropriate), first aid kit, survival bag, throw bag, knife, mobile phone

                        Transport - should be available at raft building site

PRE SESSION 

                        when planning the session consideration needs to be given to:

                                    Weather                        air and water temperature, wind, outlook

                                    Tide                              time of high/low water, range

                                    Group ability                  special needs of individuals, medical issues

                                    Location of activity         jetty congestion, access issues, etc

                                    Condition of equipment   equipment in good condition

SESSION         

Give safety talk at beginning of session

            Ensure care is taken:

                        while participants are moving and handling equipment

                        while participants are on jetty or river bank

            Check suitability of rafts before they are launched

            Check personal buoyancy and helmets before going afloat

            Personal buoyancy must be worn when launching rafts, when afloat or when on jetty

END OF SESSION

            Equipment should be checked and put away after session

            Ropes coiled & stored; muddy wet lifejackets, buoyancy aids, waterproofs rinsed and dried

Faulty or damaged equipment should be labelled and/or removed from service, the fault logged and made good as soon as is practical

THE INSTRUCTOR HAS FINAL SAY IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT A SESSION TAKES PLACE AND IN WHAT MANNER IT IS CARRIED OUT